Foldable novelty device



Jan. 11, 1966 H. E. LOHNES 3,223,139

FOLDABLE NOVELTY DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HOWQQA f. lam/5s ATTOQIVEVS 1955 H. E. LQHNES 3,2&13

FOLDABLE NOVELTY DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. l-loaw a E. Mamas 4 T TOENEYS United States Patent 6 3,228,139 FOLDABLE NOVELTY DEVICE Howard E. Lohnes, Prairie Village, Kans., assignor to Hallmark Cards, Incorporated, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Jan. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 252,155 6 Claims. (Cl. 46-34) This invention relates to novelty items and more particularly to an item wherein a part of the item is restrained in one position and upon release of the restraining means it assumes another position.

More speciffically, the object of the present invention is to rovide a cardboard design foldable in a certain position and adapted to be contained within an envelope or the like and upon removal from the envelope the cardboard with its retained object will assume a different position to form a novelty device or a utilitarian device.

In the principal form of the present invention, the object thereof is to provide a cardboard material with a fold line and secured on one side of the fold line on the inside of the card an object which will lie fiat when the cardboard is folded and, upon opening of the cardboard, the object will assume a novelty position; to provide the novelty or object on the card simulating an animal or the like and particularly the body and head thereof forming a five-sided pyramid on each side of a plane or base forming a polyhedron; to provide the two pyramids or polyhedrons with fold lines whereby by pressure on one of the vertices of the pyramids the object will be moved to folded position and, upon release of the pressure on the vertices, the object assumes a self-supporting position.

In this form of the invention, the device is adaptable for greeting cards or the like.

Another object of the present invention in connection with the principal form of the invention is to provide resilient means on the inside of the pyramids of the polyhedron with the resilient means to cause the respective side edges of the base of the pyramids to be pulled together to form the novelty item.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my invention shown in open position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view particularly illustrating the resilient means for causing the pyramids to assume a polyhedron position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view with the novely item in partly open position.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the outside of the cardboard forming the novelty animal.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a novelty greeting card embodying one feature of my invention comprising a cardboard or similar paper structure having panels 2 and 2' separated by a fold line 3 forming the inside of the folded structure and adapted to be enclosed with an envelope 4 (FIG. 2). The cardboard, when folded, may be of a size to fit in an envelope of moderate size. Mounted on the panel 2 is a novelty device 5 made from a single piece of stiff paper, as illustrated in FIG. 5, such as cardboard or the like having two panels 5 and 5", each panel having parallel side edges 6 and 7 and said panels 5 and 5" being connected by a central or base fold line 8 which, when folded, as later described, will form pyramid sections 9 and 10. Section 10 has diagonally extending fold lines 11, 12, 13 and 14, and section 9 has diagonally extending fold lines 15, 16, 17 and 18 for folding the sections into the pyramids, also as later described. The section 9, when folded upon the fold lines 15, 16, 17 and 18, forms triangular-shaped sections 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, and the section 10, when folded upon the fold lines 11, 12, 13 and 14, forms sections 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. The section 26 is provided with adhesive on its outside surface, as indicated at 29, FIG. 5. The sections 24 and 28 have tabs or flaps 30 and 31 separated from the sections by fold lines 32 and 33 and are provided with adhesive as indicated at 34 and 35. The base 36 of the triangular section 27 and the base 37 of the triangular section 25 of the section 10, and the base 38 of the tri angular section 22 and the base 39 of the triangular section 20 of the section 9, have extension members along said base lines and such base lines form fold lines, as later shown, and the extension members form tabs 42, 43, 44 and 45 and are separated at one end from the bases 36, 37, 38 and 39 by notches 46, 47, 48 and 49, so that when the cardboard is folded together, as later described, hook members 50 andl 51 will be formed, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for receiving and mounting a resilient member 52, such as a rubber band or the like for a purpose later described. The extension members 42, 43, 44 and 45 are provided with adhesive as indicated at 53 and 54.

In FIG. 5, the cardboard structure is illustrated from the outside or back and, in order to form the pyramids on each side of the base line 8, the panels 5 and 5" are folded on the line 8 and the elongated extension members 42, 43, 44 and 45 are folded inwardly to the inside of the structure 5 on their respective fold lines 36, 37, 38 and 39 after the sections 9 and 10 are folded and secured together by the adhesive 54 and 53 in a face to face relationship. The adhesive 34 on the flap 30 is secured to the inside base portion 55 of the section 19, and the adhesive 35 on flap 31 is secured to the inside base portion 56 of the section 23. The cardboard sections 9 and 16 are folded fiat on the line 8 to closed position, as shown in FIG. 2 with the adhesive 29 of section 26 on the outside. The section 26 is then adhesively applied 'by the adhesive 29 to the inside face of the panel 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The two parallel lines 6 and 7 remain independently of each other when the card is in folded position on the panel 2. When the novelty structure 5 is in the process of opening or closing, the lines 6 and 7 define the opening 57 as illustrated in FIG. 4. When the novelty structure 5 assumes the open position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the line 6 is bisected at the vertex 91 of the pyramid 9 into segments A and B and the line 7 is bisected at the vertex 92 of the pyramid 10 into segments C and D. The segments A and B fold back into face to face relationship to each other and the segments C and D also fold back into face to face relationship to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The resilient or rubber member 52 may be hooked over the hooks 50 and 51 to cause the cardboard novelty structure to assume the position as shown in FIG. 1 by drawing the hooked or side portions of the base of the polyhedron together. The section 9 is provided with extensions 58 and 59 to simulate ears for the animal 60 as shown in FIG. 1. The eyes 61 may be painted or otherwise fixed on the sections 19 and 23, as also illustrated in FIG. 1. Feet as indicated at 62 may be drawn or otherwise fixed on the panel 2 to illustrate an animal and a tail 63 may be drawn or otherwise fixed on the insied of the panel 2", the vertices of the pyramid section 10 secured to the panel 2 being adjacent the fold line 3 near the tail 63. Other indicia may be shown as desire-d. While I have here shown the animal to simulate a mouse, other animals and caricatures may be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In order to close the novelty item or animal, pressure is applied to the nose 64 by the finger 65 of the user, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the cardboard structure simulating the animal will lie flat against the panel 2 against the pressure of the rubber 52, and by folding the panel 2 over panel 2 the animal will remain in fl-at position. The envelope 4 in which the card is enclosed will also restrain the animal in closed position against pressure of the rubber 52. It is possible that when the card is withdrawn from the envelope the pressure of the rubber will open the panels, but ordinarily the outside of the panel 2 will contain some indicia (not shown) which will cause the addressee of the envelope to open the panel and the pressure then will be released on the cardboard animal so that the rubber will draw the sides together to assume the position shown in FIG. 1.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved novelty item simple and inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A novelty device adapted to be contained in flat position, comprising:

(a) a supporting cardboard having a longitudinal fold line separating the cardboard into facing panels when folded on said fold line,

(b) an animated character including a piece of cardboard having a portion adhesively secured to one of said panels, said piece of cardboard having two facing panels, each panel having ends and a side edge, extending parallel to the ends and side edge of the other panel of the cardboard piece and a longitudinal base fold line connecting said panels of the cardboard piece,

(c) means on the ends of one panel of said piece of cardboard adjacent said side edge and having adhesive thereon to secure the same to the ends of the other side edge of the other panel of the cardboard piece,

(d) fold lines extending diagonally from midway of said side edges of each panel of the piece of cardboard to said base fold line,

(e) means on said secured ends of the panels of said cardboard piece forming oppositely facing hooks,

(f) and resilient means engaging said hooks to exert a pressure thereon to draw the same toward each other forming two 5-side pyramids having a common base and forming a polyhedron simulating said character on one of said panels,

(g) whereby pressure on the vertices of one of said pyramids will cause the polyhedron to lie flat on said panel and closing of the other panel thereover will hold the same in flat position.

2. A novelty device adapted to be contained in flat position, comprising:

(a) a supporting cardboard having a longitudinal fold line separating the cardboard into facing panels when folded on said fold line,

(b) a piece of cardboard having a portion adhesively secured to one of said panels, said piece of cardboard having two facing panels, each panel having ends and a side edge extending parallel to the ends and side edge of the other panel of the cardboard piece and a longitudinal fold line connecting said panels of the cardboard piece,

(c) flaps extending outwardly from the ends of one panel of said piece of cardboard adjacent said side edge and having adhesive on said flaps to secure the same to the ends of the other side edge of the other panel of the piece of cardboard,

(d) fold lines extending diagonally from midway of said side edges of each panel of the cardboard piece to said base fold line, said ends of each panel of said piece of cardboard having notches and fold lines extending from midway of said s'ide edges to intersect said notches,

(e) means in each notch connected thereto by fold lines and having adhesive for securing the two panels of the cardboard piece together and forming oppositely facing hooks,

(f) and resilient means engaging said hooks to exert a pressure thereon to draw the same toward each other forming two S-side pyramids having a common base and forming a polyhedron simulating an animal on one of said panels,

(g) whereby pressure on the vertices of one of said pyramids will cause the polyhedron to lie flat on said panel and closing of the other panel thereover will hold the same in flat position.

3. A novelty device adapted to be contained in flat position, comprising:

(a) a supporting cardboard having a longitudinal fold line separating the cardboard into facing panels when folded on said fold line,

(b) a piece of cardboard having a portion adhesively secured to one of said panels, said piece of cardboard having two facing panels, each panel having ends and a side edge extending parallel to the end and side edge of the other panel of the cardboard piece and a longitudinal fold line connecting said panels of the cardboard piece,

(c) flaps evtending outwardly from the ends of one of the panels of said piece of cardboard adjacent said side edge and having adhesive on said flaps to secure the same to the ends of the other side edge of the other panel of the piece of cardboard,

(d) fold lines extending diagonally from midway of said side edges of said last named panels to said base fold line, said ends of each panel of said piece of cardboard having notches and fold lines extending from midway of said side edges to intersect said notches,

(e) extension members in each notch connected to said last named panels by fold lines and having adhesive to secure said extension members of opposite panels of the cardboard piece together forming oppositely facing hooks when secured together,

(f) and resilient means engaging said hooks to exert a pressure thereon to draw the same toward each other forming two 5-side pyramids having a common base and forming a polyhedron simulating an animal on one of said panels,

(g) whereby pressure on the vertices of one of said pyramids will cause the polyhedron to lie fiat on one of said facing panels and closing of the other facing panel thereover will hold the same in flat position.

4. A novelty device adapted to be restrained in flat position between two relatively stiff panel members foldable one over the other comprising:

(a) a piece of cardboard having side edges and end edges and a fold line parallel with the side edges forming side panels and one side panel overlying the other when folded, the end edges of said panels having notches extending inwardly from said end edges,

(b) extension members hingedly connected to said panels on each side of said fold line and extending into said notches, said extension members having tab portions spaced from said panels forming hook means on said panels, said extension members having adhesive on one face thereof and adapted to fold 5 inwardly and be secured face to face when the panels are folded on the fold line,

(c) means on the end edges of one panel securing the end edges of both panels together, and

((1) means on one of said panels for securing said cardboard to one of said panel members, and

(e) resilient means engaging said hook means to draw the panels toward each other when said panels are unrestrained.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the means on the end edges of one of said panels for securing the end edges of both panels together includes flaps hingedly connected to the end edges of the panel secured to said cardboard and means securing said flaps to the other panel.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said panels include a plurality of fold lines forming a plurality of triangular-shaped portions and the means on one of said panels for securing said carboard to one of said panel members consist of adhesive on one of said triangularshaped portions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1893 Vine. 6/ 1906 Hill. 4/1911 Mitchell 46l57 10/1937 Phillips 46l57 4/1939 Giles 40-126 6/1952 Ditzler et al 4637 X 6/1959 Nelson 40124,1

FOREIGN PATENTS 11/1953 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

4. A NOVELTY DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE RESTRAINED IN FLAT POSITION BETWEEN TWO RELATIVELY STIFF PANEL MEMBERS FOLDABLE ONE OVER THE OTHER COMPRISING: (A) A PIECE OF CARDBOARD HAVING SIDE EDGES AND END EDGES AND A FOLD LINE PARALLEL WITH THE SIDE EDGES FORMING SIDE PANELS AND ONE SIDE PANEL OVERLYING THE OTHER WHEN FOLDED, THE END EDGES OF SAID PANELS HAVING NOTCHES EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM SAID END EDGES, (B) EXTENSION MEMBERS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID PANELS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID FOLD LINE AND EXTENDING INTO SAID NOTCHES, SAID EXTENSION MEMBERS HAVING TAB PORTIONS SPACED FROM SAID PANELS FORMING HOOK MEANS ON SAID PANELS, SAID EXTENSION MEMBERS HAVING ADHESIVE ON ONE FACE THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO FOLD INWARDLY AND BE SECURED FACE TO FACE WHEN THE PANELS ARE FOLDED ON THE FOLD LINES, (C) MEANS ON THE END EDGES OF ONE PANEL SECURING THE END EDGES OF BOTH PANELS TOGETHER, AND (D) MEANS ON ONE OF SAID PANELS FOR SECURING SAID CARDBOARD TO ONE OF SAID PANEL MEMBERS, AND (E) RESILIENT MEANS ENGAGING SAID HOOK MEANS TO DRAW THE PANELS TOWARD EACH OTHER WHEN SAID PANELS ARE UNRESTRAINED. 